Description
We are seeking ambitious and hard-working PhD or MSc student to contribute to our long-term, individual-based work on the interface of nutrition and disease in bighorn sheep in western Wyoming. Northwest Wyoming is home to some of the largest, native herds of bighorn sheep in the world. This work will focus on the Whiskey Mountain herd in the Wind River Range, Jackson herd in the Gros Ventre range, and Absaroka herd. Initiated in 2015, the data amassed by this long-term, individual-based study is rivaled by few others ever conducted for a free-ranging large mammal, and holds the potential to unveil nuance of previously underappreciated dynamics between nutrition and the pneumonia complex in chronically infected sheep herds. The study integrates multiple lines of investigation including movement, nutrition, growth, demography, pathogen presence, and disease of migratory bighorn sheep. Wyoming Game and Fish Department is initiating 2 management tools: ewe harvest and test and a cull program, and we will continue monitor the outcomes of these management actions. The student will be part of an exciting, inter-agency collaborative study led by the Monteith Shop at the University of Wyoming in close collaboration with agency partners. The student will be responsible for leading the day-to-day duties associated with the project. Although an underlying objective is to address questions tied to nutrition and disease ecology, the student will have the opportunity to pursue other novel questions associated with the ecology and management of bighorn sheep with this rich, long-term dataset. Applicants must have a strong work ethic, be self-motivated, and be adept at communicating and interacting with a diverse public and natural resource professionals. The position will require rigorous fieldwork in remote country for multiple months of the year, while balancing demands associated with coursework, statistical analyses, and writing. Fieldwork for the project involves lamb captures and data collection in remote alpine areas. Successful candidates need to be extremely proficient in the backcountry and able to hike and backpack long distances (up to 25 miles per day with 5,000–7,000 ft of elevation). The nature and logistics of the project requires a flexible and problem-solving mindset. Preference will be given to applicants with (1) a BSc or MSc degree in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, or a related discipline, (2) previous experience in field-based research in wildlife ecology and proficiency in backcountry work, (3) strong quantitative and GIS skills, (4) written and oral communication skills, and (5) a desire to conduct research grounded in ecological theory with direct relevance to management. A competitive graduate assistantship will be provided, which will include an annual stipend (MSc~18,500 ; PhD~$23,000) plus tuition and benefits for the duration of the student’s research. The position will be housed in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, in conjunction with Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. Ideally the candidate could start by September 2022, but we are willing to be flexible for the right candidate. The student will be supervised by Dr. Kevin Monteith but will work closely with a group of committed and passionate collaborators and Shopmates. To apply please send in a single pdf 1) a cover letter outlining your interests, experience, and desires for joining our team, 2) a CV, 3) GRE scores (if available), 4) transcripts (unofficial), and 5) contact information for three references to Dr. Kevin Monteith via email (preferred) at [email protected] with the subject line: Grad position WY sheep. Applications are requested by 30 May. Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until a suitable applicant is found.
Qualifications
Fieldwork for the project involves lamb captures and data collection in remote alpine areas. Successful candidates need to be extremely proficient in the backcountry and able to hike and backpack long distances (up to 25 miles per day with 5,000–7,000 ft of elevation). The nature and logistics of the project requires a flexible and problem-solving mindset. Preference will be given to applicants with (1) a BSc or MSc degree in ecology, wildlife biology, conservation biology, or a related discipline, (2) previous experience in field-based research in wildlife ecology and proficiency in backcountry work, (3) strong quantitative and GIS skills, (4) written and oral communication skills, and (5) a desire to conduct research grounded in ecological theory with direct relevance to management.
Contact Person
Kevin Monteith
Contact eMail
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